Rear safety bindings



Dec. 2, 1969 G- P J SALOMON 3,481,615

REAR SAFETY BINDINGS Filed June 13, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet l Dec 2, 1959 G.P. J. SALOMON 3,481,615

REAR SAFETY BINDINGS Filed June 13, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 2, 1969G. P. J. SALOMON 3,481,615

REAR SAFETY BINDINGS Filed June 13, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGB FIG.11

Dec. 2, 1969 G. P. J. sALoMoN 3,481,615

REAR SAFETY BINDINGS Filed June 13, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United StatesPatent O 3,481,615 REAR SAFETY BINDINGS Georges P. J. Salomon, 34 Ave.de Loverchy, Annecy (74), France Filed June 13, 1967, Ser. No. 645,824Claims priority, application France, June 21, 1966,

Int. ICl. A632: 9/ 00, 11 /12 U.S. Cl. 280-11.35 14 Claims ABSTRACT FTHE DISCLOSURE In a heel anchor binding, a retaining jaw intended to befolded over the edge of the boot of the skier to block the same againsta stop integral with the ski, a locking device for locking the jaw inits folded position, a pedal i There are already known rear ski oranchor bindings without a cable which act by bearing a jaw against Ytheheel of the sole of the boot which comprise additionally, in order tomake possible the automatic wear of these bindings, a pedal urged by thelowering of the boot and having for its purpose on the one hand to bringthe jaw in operative position and on the other hand to reset a lockingdevice.

In known bindings of this type, the movement of the pedal is related bya precise and definite kinematic law to that of the jaw: this rule hasbeen applied in bindings having a jaw and a pedal forming a monolithicpiece if one disregards devices which permit to position the jaw infunction of the thickness of the sole of the ski boot and on the otherhand of devices in which the jaw and the pedal are mutually connected bypivots, whether these be direct pivots or those obtained by means ofsuitable intermediate pins.

With these known bindings, a position given to one of the elements, thejaw or the pedal, necessarily implies a single corresponding position ofthe other. This characteristic has not been found advantageous in use inparticular when a deposit of snow or ice accumulates on the boot,between the boot and ski, or between the pedal and the ski, such adeposit limiting the possible movement of the pedal and consequentlythat of the jaw which no longer can exert on the heel a sufiicientstress such that the cooperation between the binding and the bootbecomes relatively precarious.

The present invention precisely has for its object to remedy thisdrawback and accordingly seeks to provide a rear ski or anchor bindingcomprising a jaw intended to be folded over on the edge of the heel ofthe ski boot to ensure its blocking 4against a stop integral With theski, means for locking the jaw in folded position, a pedal adapted to bemoved from a higher to a lower position by the heel of the skiers bootwhen the same puts on his ski and with a kinematic linkage between thejaw and the pedal arranged in such a way as to occasion said foldingover of the jaw when the pedal is placed into its low position by theskier, this new binding being further characterised by the fact thatthis linkage makes possible the relative movement of the pedal and ofthe jaw at the end of the path of travel of these elements.

In known bindings, the folding over of the jaw on the heel of the skiersboot takes place in two steps:

Patented Dec. 2, 1969 "ice An approach of the jaw toward the heel,

A placing under tension and a locking.

The step of placing the jaw under tension takes place during a greateror smaller movement of the jaw in proportion of the degree offlexibility of the elastic locking means of the binding.

The pedal serves to cause the approach of the jaw by bringing it in aposition such that its placing under tension can begin and thereafterhas no functional role: if this pedal is connected to the jaw in itsmovements, it must be able to move therewith also during the elementarymovement required by the placing under tension. It will be understoodthen that as soon as a deposit of snow forms which will prevent thisterminal movement of the pedal this `will also prevent the placing undertension of the jaw.

To avoid this disadvantage, the bindings now known have a housingpermitting the retraction of the pedal and which is located under thesupport level of the heel of the boot at a distance from this level atleast equal to the distance which the jaw must still travel in order tobe placed under tension starting from the moment when it has beenbrought sufficiently near the heel of the boot to lock.

The arrangement provided in the present invention makes possible theelimination of this housing so that at the beginning of the step ofapproach of the jaw, the opening pedal-jaw can be as great as desiredwhich permits to avoid all encounter between the jaw and the upper partof the ski boot during the performance of this first step.

With known bindings, such an opening, necessarily greater than thethickness of the heel, could only be made by increasing proportionatelythe depths of the housing intended for the pedal. It is seen immediatelythat this is only possible at a price of increasing the dimensions ofthe binding assembly which becomes naturally more costly than necessaryand the aesthetic appearance of which is thereby marred.

It should furthermore be noted that the greater the opening separatingthe jaw and the pedal the greater the movement of the jaw correspondingto the first step of folding over which naturally limits the thicknessof snow and ice Iwhich can deposit between the boot and the ski withoutthis thickness influencing the correct tightening of the jaw.

The accompanying drawings represent by way of nonlimiting exampledifferent embodiments of the present invention:

FIGURES l to 3 are each longitudinal cross-sectional views of the sameembodiment in three different operating positions.

FIGURES 4 to 6 show more schematically three different views of anotherbinding according to the invention.

FIGURES 7 to 9 show schematically a third embodiment of the invention inits three functioning positions.

FIGURES l0 to 16 show schematically in elevation seven othermodifications of the embodiments shown in FIGURES 7 to 9.

FIGURES 17 and 18 are schematic elevational views of a fourth embodimentof the device' of the invention.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 to 3, the binding according to theinvention comprises a base plate 1 secured to the ski 2 by means ofscrews 3, the left hand extremity of which has a rib 4 forming a stop onwhich will bear the heel of the skiers boot and on which is mounted bymeans of slides 1a, a sole 6 longitudinally slotted at 7 and the axialposition of which on plate 1 can be adjusted by tightening a screw 8a ona bolt 8b passing through slot 7 and integral with said plate 1.`

On this sole 6 is slidingly mounted a casing 9 connected to the sole bya compression spring 10 between a projection 6a thereof and an element11 of casing 9 forming a cam for a stop 12 for locking the binding andmounted on the left hand extremity of a rod 13. This rod is engaged byits threaded part 13a in a passage provided in the common part 14a of aspur 14 the parallel branches of which are pivoted on a shaft 15transversal to the ski and Which is carried by a lever 16a pivoted at 17on the casing, the shaft 15 being excentric by a suitable distancerelative to shaft 17.

Rod 13 is elastically connected to spur 14 by means of a spring 17 undercompression between part 14a of the spur and a tightening head 18constituted by a screw in mesh with the thread 13a of the rod and theaxial position of which can be adjusted in function of the compressionto be given to spring 17 As shown on the drawing (FIGURES 1 and 2), stop12 can have two positions: one upright in which it is maintained bycontact with the upper face of cam 11, and the other lowered, in whichit is in contact with the inclined left surface of this cam under theurging of the rounded lower edge of beak 19 and against spring 17 whichis under compression.

When in upright position, stop 12 takes care of the angular locking ofthe beak which is secured at the extremity of a lever 20 pivoted arounda shaft 21 and which bears on its left hand face two legs 22 betweenwhich is pivoted a threaded rod 23 the upper extremity of which isslotted by the transversal slot 23a. intended for engagement by a tool,screw-driver or simply the edge of a coin. On this rod 23 is engaged amember 24 constituting the jaw by which the binding according to theinvention is able to take hold of the heel of ski boot 5.

The adjustment of the position of jaw 24 on rod 23 can therefore beeffected in a particularly precise and simple manner by pivoting thisrod.

The lowering of jaw 24 on ski boot heel 5 takes place as in knownbindings by pressure of the heel on a pedal or lever 25 of the bindingand on which the skier steps with his boot. This pedal which isconstituted by an open L-shaped metallic plate is also pivoted aroundshaft 21 and is engaged by one of its parts through a slot 26a in leg 26of lever 20 `which carries the jaw.

Plate 25 is thus free to move angularly without moving lever 20 and jaw24 rigid therewith as long as it does not come into contact with theextreme lower or higher part of the edges defining slot 26a.

For the ski-bound position of the anchor (FIGURE l) plate 25 is thusable to assume any angular position between the two limits given by theupper edge and the lower edge of slot 26a without changing the positionof jaw 24 which remains the same: it is thus seen that even if a mass ofsnow having a thickness corresponding substantially to the length ofslot 26a were to deposit on the part of the anchor disposed between rib4 and the left hand extremity of sole 6, this mass would not prevent thecomplete clamping of the anchor since it would only slightly raise pedal25 relative to the position it occupies in the figure.

In released position, the binding according to the invention is as shownin FIGURE 2. It is seen that stop 12 is in a collapsed position in whichit is maintained by the lower rounded part of beak 19 against the urgingof spring 17 which is taut. Lever 16 is folded over casing 9.

When the skier steps on the ski in order to bind the anchor on the heelof the boot, he presses with his heel on pedal 25 in the direction ofarrow F (FIGURE 2) and thereby causes lever 20y lbearing jaw 24 to tipwith jaw 24 folding over in the direction of the upper edge of the heel,or of a groove formed at the heel welt in conventional ski boots andused to receive the spring loaded heel cable of other types of binders.Beak 19 integral with lever 20 also moves in the direction F: at

the moment when jaw 24 is about to touch heel 5, beak 19 is in anangular position such that it is in contact with stop 12 only by theterminal portion 19a of its rounded section so that this stop then isable to ascend into locking position (FIGURE l) under the urging ofspring 17 which relaxes by contact with the inclined left facette of cam11. This relaxation of spring 17 causes also a slight counter-clockwisemovement of beak 19 and of jaw 14 corresponding to the distancenecessary for placing the jaw under tension.

It is thus stop 12 which maintains jaw 24 in locked position.

The anchor shown opens automatically as soon as a given effort greaterthan that necessary for compressing spring 17 acts in clockwisedirection on jaw 24. The intensity of this effort, which can for examplebe occasioned by the fall of the skier, is adjustable by a greater orlesser screwing in of nut 18.

In this case, beak 19 acts on stop 12 driving it to the left bycompression of spring 17, the opening of the anchor taking place whenthis stop is brought to slide on the inclined edge of cam 11.

Similarly this anchor binding can also be opened by direct action of theskier on lever 16 in tipping the latter in a position shown in FIGURE 3,which has for result to lower stop 12 and to thus free beak 19.

In a second embodiment of the invention which is shown schematically inIFIGURES 4 to 6, the pedal is lformed by the left hand side extremity 27of a lever 28 pivoted on a shaft 29 integral with a casing which is notshown. This casing can, as before, be mounted flexibly and slidably onthe ski.

Lever 28 carries a shaft 30 mounted near pedal 27 and engaged in a slot31 cut in the lower part of an inverted L-shaped piece 32 the shortestbranch of which, 33, forms the securing jaw of the binding. This jaw isrepresented as being fixed, but it is evident that it can also beconstituted by a distinct piece mounted on threaded rods integral withpiece 32 which would permit to adjust its vertical position in themanner described on FIGURES 1 to 3.

This pie/:e 32 is additionally connected to a shaft 34, secured to thecasing (not shown) of the anchor, parallel to shaft 29, by means of asmall rod 35 to which it is pivoted at 36.

At its lower part, opposite to pedal 27, piece 32 additionally carries abeak 32a, the extremity of which can for example be provided with aroller by means of which it is in permanent contact with the edge of cam37 which is pivoted around shaft 34, previously mentioned, and alsosubjected to the action of spring 38 tending to urge it against beak 32aof piece 32. This cam 37 has an L- shaped prole.

In the released position of the heel anchor, lever 28 is slightlyupwardly inclined and beak 32a bears against the left hand side of cam37, the spring 38 being then compressed to the maximum. The extent ofcompression of this spring naturally can be adjusted by any suita-blemeans which need not be shown.

When the skier steps on the ski he applies his heel on pedal 27 andcauses accordingly the tipping of lever 28 and of the entire heel anchorin direction F. During this movement, beak 32a slides on the edge of cam37 and nears its rounded point 37a. It is starting from the moment whenit passes this point and moves in contact with the lower edge of cam 37that takes place the locking of the anchor. This exact relative positionof beak 32a and cam 37 for which the locking is complete is naturally infunction of the respective shape of these two elements.

The opening of the heel ancher described can also be obtained byexerting on jaw 33 an effort tending to move away from the surface ofthe ski against spring 38.

FIGURES 5 and 6 show the functioning of the heel anchor when the surfaceof the ski is covered by a layer of snow having thickness e.

When pedal 27 comes into contact with the snow, the pivoting of lever 28terminates (FIGURE 5) when the tightening of jaw 33 is not terminated.It is spring 38 which furnishes, as before, the effort necessary for thelast displacement of jaw 33. This displacement is still possible sincepiece 32 and lever 28 are capable of a slight relative movement inamplitude corresponding to the length of slot 31. Piece 32 at the end ofthis movement is in the positon shown on FIGURE 6'.

Naturally this type of anchor will also have a manual opening device.

The heel anchor according to the third embodiment is essentially formedby two levers 40 and 41 pivoted around a common shaft 42 and by anelastic locking system cornprising a ball 43 slidably mounted in acylindrical passage 44 provided in case 45 of the heel anchor, shownschematically in the drawing, this ball being subject to the urging ofan adjustable spring 46.

Ball 43 is constantly applied by this spring against the edge of a cam47 formed in the right arm of lever 41, the left arm of which 41a,constitutes the jaw of the anchor. This jaw can also be independent oflever 41 and be secured thereto by any suitable means permitting tomodify the relative position thereof. The section of the cam terminatesnear its lower section by a type of nick in which enters ball 43 inbound position of the anchor.

Jaw 41a which is driven into this position by the action of the skiersheel on the lever 40, the left arm of which 40a forms an actuating pedaland the right arm of which, 40b, substantially shorter than the leftarm, constitutes the element by means of which lever 40 acts on lever 41to cause the tipping in direction F.

FIGURES 8 and 9 show the behaviour of the anchor when the ski is coveredby a layer of hard snow of thickness e. The anchor is actually soproportioned that when pedal 40a enters into contact with this layer(FIGURE 8), the tipping movement of lever 41 is not completelyterminated.

It is again the locking mechanism 42 to 45, or any similar device, whichmakes possible the final positioning of this lever in locked position,in cooperation with cam 47 the part immediately preceding the terminalnick previously mentioned has a section such that ball 43 rolls on thissection in direction of this nick under the urging of spring 46. Thislever 41 then has the position corresponding to that of FIGURE 9. It isseen that it is separated from lever 40 by a distance f correspondingsubstantially to the thickness e of the snow on which bears lever 40.

In a modification, the shape of levers 40` and 41 can be slightlydifferent from that shown in FIGURES 7 to 9 in Order to permit theadjustment of the maximum spacing of these levers in order to adapt theanchor to boots having heels of different thicknesses (FIGURES 10 to12).

Naturally, the locking device 43 to 46, or any other similar device,will also be provided even though it is not shown: it will be arrangedin such a way as to exert its action on a suitable part of the leverforming the jaw.

The pivoting axes of the two levers can coincide (FIG- URE 10) or, onthe contrary, can be distinct (FIG- URES 11 and 12).

Finally, one of them can be connected to the other by means of aflexible member such as a spring as in FIG- URE 12.

In another modification (FIGURE 13), the anchor can comprise two levers47 and 48 pivoted around the same shaft 49, the left arm of lever 47constituting the gripping jaw and its right hand extremity beingsolicited by a locking mechanism, for example of the type formed byelements 43 to 46 of FIGURE 7. Lever 48 assumes here the shape of a C,the lower horizontal branch of which forms the actuating pedal, theupper one carrying a rod 50 slidable axially against the urging of aspring 51, and the assembly constituted by this rod and this springforming a pusher by means of which lever 48 is able to drive lever 47when it is urged in the direction F by the heel of a boot acting on thepedal.

In the modification according to FIGURE 14, the heel anchor according tothe invention comprises a lever 52 pivoted at 53 and forming a jaw atits left hand part and a pedal 54 constituted by the horizontal branchof a L-shaped binding iron slidably mounted in a passage 55 of lever 52.The relative axial position of this binding iron is determined on theone hand by support head 56 and on the other hand by a spring 57 undertension between lever 52 and pedal 54. The locking of lever 52 ispossible by pushing on its right hand extremity.

In the modification shown in FIGURE 15, the heel anchor is formed by aL-shaped lever, 58, pivoted at 59 and the horizontal branch of which 58aforms the gripping jaw of the anchor, the lower extremity of thevertical branch of lever 58 forming a beak 58b on which bears an elasticblade 60, in the shape of a C.

This blade is engaged by its vertical part through a passage 61 providedin lever 58 and bears by its upper horizontal branch on the upper edgeof jaw 58a: it is the lower horizontal branch of blade 60 which formsthe actuating pedal of the anchor, this pedal thus being able to bendwhen it encounters an obstacle such as a layer of snow, without causingthe stopping of jaw 58a.

The modification shown in FIGURE 16 is an extrapolation of that shown inFIGURE 15. As is the latter, the anchor comprises a jaw constiuted bythe horizontal branch of a L-shaped lever, 62, pivoted around a shaft63, but the pedal has been secured to the lower extremity of thevertical branch. This pedal is formed by the left arm of lever 64pivoted at 65 on lever 62 and bearing on the dorsal part there of by itsright arm.

Naturally, this leaning stops as soon as the pedal is stopped in itspath, such as for example by a layer of snow on the ski. The locking oflever 62 in gripping position can be effected by any suitable means asis the case for the other previously mentioned modifications.

In the last modification shown (FIGURES 17 and 18), the heel anchoraccording to the invention is formed by two levers facing one another 66and 67, pivoted at 68 and the left part of which forms respectively thejaw and the pedal. The right extremities of these levers are in contactwith the opposed edges of a tipping lever 69 pivoted at 70 which theygrip and which constitutes the kinematic linking element for levers 66and 67. Tipping lever 69 is naturally subject to the action ofelastically operating locking members capable of bringing lever 66 intightening position (illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE 17) at theinstant when pedal 67 has been stopped in its path by an obstacle(position corresponding to the fastening elements illustrated in fulllines in FIG- URE 17).

In a modification, not shown, the locking members 0f this anchor couldact directly on lever 66.

In another embodiment, also not shown, the anchor could be provided withlocking members acting on lever 66 and on tipping lever 69.

It should also be noted that tipping lever 69 can have a shape designedin order to permit the control of the law of variation of the openingpedal-jaw along the movement of these two elements.

The invention is naturally not limited to what has been represented ordescribed: in particular the inventive principles constituting the basisthereof can be carried out with an anchor the movement of whose jaw orof whose pedal would be different from those mentioned.

Similarly it would be possible to apply these same principles to ananchor the pedal-jaw interaction means of which are different: it couldbe direct or indirect by means of any suitable piece, of an elasticmeans, of a system for adjusting the opening pedal-jaw by means of ascrew or a cog, etc.

The locking and moving device for the anchor can be any whatever.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that as devised the new typeof heel anchoring ski binder is highly eicient in use, simple to installand to operate, and economically from the stand point of manufacture.

It will be understood by those skilled in this art that the present heelanchor is adapted for mounting on a ski a boot length behind aconventional toe abutment forming no part of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ski binder for releasably securing a ski boot to a ski, a heelanchor comprising a plate adjustably and slidably mounted on said ski,said plate having at one end thereof a stop; a housing slidably mountedon said plate and normally spring-urged forwardly, ski boot heel holdingdown means pivoted on said housing and adapted to be lowered against theheel of Said boot for clamping said heel against said stop; means forlocking said holding down means in lowered position; a pedal below saidmeans and movable by the heel of said ski boot between a raised and alowered position, a kinematic link between said holding down means andsaid pedal for lowering said holding down means when said pedal islowered by said heel, means associated with said link and said pedal tolimit pivoted movement of said holding down means relative to saidpedal.

2. Heel anchor according to claim 1, wherein said pedal has a fixed axisand said holding down means are articulated about said fixed axis; saidholding down means including an elongated vertical slot receiving saidaxis, said slot having a length defining the extent of relative movementbetween said pedal and said holding down means.

3. Heel anchor according to claim 1, wherein said locking means consistof a beak integral with said jaw, a retractable stop operativelyassociated with said beak to prevent the same from moving when said jawis in lowered position, an elastic member urging said stop in lockedposition, a iixed cam for retracting said stop when said elastic memberis taut and for bringing it in operative positive when said member isrelaxed, said beak bringing said stop into retracted position andmaintaining it therein against said elastic member when said jaw issubject to a predetermined effort opposing the maintenance of said jawin lowered position.

4. Heel anchor according to claim 3, wherein said stop is integral withat least one longitudinally slidable rod and said elastic memberconsists of a spiral spring surrounding said rod and bearing on one endthereof` said housing having a locking lever pivoted thereon said leverhaving pivoted thereon a longitudinal excentrically disposed rod, saidother end of said spring bearing on at least a part of said rod.

5. Heel anchor according to claim 4, having a cam controlling thepositioning of said stop, said spring being taut between said cam and apart of said plate.

6. Heel anchor according to claim 1, wherein said pedal consists of theextremity of a iirst lever pivoted in a plane longitudinal with saidski, and said holding down means include a jaw consisting of the bentextremity of at least a second lever pivoted on said iirst lever; a stopmember on said second lever, one of said levers having a slot and theother having a pin slidably mounted in said slot, said slot having alength determining the possible relative position of said pedal and saidjaw, a linking rod pivotably connecting said second lever to saidhousing, said rod being swingable in a plane parallel to said secondlever; said locking means comprising an L-shaped cam having twobranches, said linking rod connecting one of said branches to saidhousing, the other of said branches having an outer edge, spring meanstending to maintain said edge in contact with said stop member on saidsecond lever when said jaw is in lowered position, in order to ensurelocking thereof, said stop member on said second lever being in contactwith said other branch of said cam for the raised position of said jaw.

7. Heel anchor according to claim 1, wherein said pedal and said jaw areeach constituted by one of the arms of a double lever in mutual contactby their other arm, said other arm of said lever forming said jawforming a cam for a headed support, a cam having a recess therein, aspring urged headed support engaged in said recess for locking said jawin lowered position.

`8. Heel anchor according to claim 7 having an adjustable stop integralwith one of said levers for making contact between said second arm ofsaid two levers.

9. Heel anchor according to claim 7, wherein said levers are elasticallyconnected by their second arms.

10. Heel anchor according to claim 1, wherein said pedal and said jaware each constituted by one of the arms of a double lever, said armforming said jaw being substantially horizontal and solicited by saidlocking means, said arm forming said pedal having the shape of a Chaving two horizontal branches, one of said branches forming said pedalproper, and the other extending above said jaw, and an intermediateelastic link for making said other branch bear on said jaw.

11. Heel anchor according to claim 1, wherein said jaw consists of onearm of a double lever, the other arm thereof being solicited by saidlocking means, a L-shaped piece having a horizontal branch forming saidpedal and having a vertical branch, said vertical branch being connectedto said jaw, said pedal being vertically connected to said arm by meansof a spring taut between said pedal and said jaw, and by a headedsupport secured at the upper extremity of said vertical branch, abovesaid jaw.

12. Heel anchor according to claim 1, having a L- shaped lever havingtwo interconnected branches, said jaw being constituted by one of saidbranches, and a C- shaped elastic blade having a lower horizontalbranch, said branch passing through said jaw, said other branch of saidelastic blade bearing on the upper part of said jaw.

13. Heel anchor according to claim 1, having a L- shaped lever havingtwo branches, one of said branches forming said jaw, a double leverpivoted at the extremity of said second branch of said L-shaped leverand forming said pedal, the second arm of said double lever being incontact with said second branch of said L-shaped lever, from the sideopposite said first branch.

14. Heel anchor according to claim 1, having two levers pivoted on asame shaft, said jaw and said pedal consisting of one of the arms ofsaid levers, said levers having another arm, a cam consisting of alocking lever disposed between said two levers and connecting said jawand said pedal.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,391,944 7/1968 Shimizu2SC-11.35 3,125,349 3/1964 Schweizer 2SC-11.35 3,278,195 10/1966 Salomon280-1l.35 3,291,500 12/1966 Voster et al. 2230-1135 3,326,568 6/1967Salomon 2SC-11.35

LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner JOHN A. PEKAR, Assistant Examiner

